Labour heckler boos a girl of 15 for praising her academy school

A girl of 15 was heckled at the Labour party conference as she spoke out in praise of her academy school.

Lesson: Ed Miliband, with Harriet Harman (Picture: Elliott Franks)

Joan, an immigrant who came to Britain seeking political asylum, was interrupted by an audience member as she talked about her London school.Critics fear the government’s academies programme will take resources away from comprehensive schools.

But education secretary Michael Gove said: ‘Heckling a schoolgirl because she goes to an academy is disgraceful. But it also shows the real face of Labour – a party where aspiration and achievement gets booed.

‘This pupil is a credit to her school and proof that we need to expand the academies programme.’

The Year 11 pupil, who hopes to study law at university, was speaking before shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg addressed the conference.

Now, Mr Twigg faces calls to identify the cuplrit and get him expelled.

On Twitter, Patrick Moule wrote: ‘Wow, heckling a 15-year-old because you disagree with her on education policy makes you a really big person.’ A Labour spokesman condemned the outburst, saying ‘no one should be heckled at a party conference, least of all a teenage girl making her first speech’.

Ed Miliband also spoke yesterday about the leadership battle that led to his brother, David, leaving frontline politics, although there are reports he is now ready for a return.

The Labour leader told the BBC: ‘Yes the contest was a difficult time. We are over it. I think the Labour party is too.’